Sunday in the Park Illustrated Art Lessons

Painting Murals Materials: roll of green or blue bulletin-board • scissors • paintbrushes

1. Cut the bulletin-board paper to the desired length.

2. Working in groups, make sketches of a landscape composition and select one sketch for the mural. Copy the chosen sketch onto the bulletin-board paper, adjusting the composition to the scale of the mural paper.

3. Introduce painting techniques, using the lesson “Preparing to Paint”.

4. Select paintbrushes appropriate for the style 5. Paint each landscape mural in the style and brushwork of the corresponding focus of the focus work of art. Save the murals work of art. Select the colors for the murals. for the language arts lesson.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 Sunday in the Park Illustrated Art Lessons

Planning a Park: Torn –Paper Murals Materials: roll of green or blue bulletin-board paper • scissors • • glue

1. Cut the bulletin-board paper to the desired length. 3. Arrange the torn paper to form the park scene, then glue the shapes onto the background paper.

2. Using the drawings of ideal parks as a guide, tear pieces of construction paper into shapes and items that will go into the park.

4. Use the construction paper to create representations of the class members, then glue them to the background paper.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 Sunday in the Park Illustrated Art Lessons

Estimating Distances: People in Depth Materials: blank transparencies (as used with overhead projectors) • transparency markers • tape

1. Working in pairs, measure the distance outside the classroom window. 4. Have one partner go outside and stand on the 5' line. The second partner should stay inside and draw the shape of the first 2. Draw lines at 5', 10', 20', and 40'. partner on the transparency.

3. Tape a transparency to the window. 5. The partner outside should then move Use a marker to indicate the horizon back to the 10' line, the 20' line, and the line, as seen through the window, 40' line, with the inside partner drawing on the transparency. the shape at each distance.

6. Partners should exchange positions and repeat the activity.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A Three-Dimensional World Illustrated Art Lessons

Creating Sculpture: Slip –and –Slot Method Materials: heavy paper • scissors • glue Note: Demonstrate this technique before students begin their sculptures.

1. Cut two rectangles from heavy paper. Cut a 2. Follow the same technique for circles, ovals, slot in the bottom of one and a matching slot and triangles. in the top of the other. Slide the two together. A bead of glue added at the seam secures the join where the two pieces meet.

3. By combining these different shapes, students can create complex and varied sculptures.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A Three-Dimensional World Illustrated Art Lessons

Creating Sculpture: Method Materials: tagboard or heavy paper • object with circular bottom (can, pie plate) • scissors • glue

3. Place the circular object on the ends of the tagboard with the circle facing in. Score both sides of the tagboard along the arc 1. Fold a piece of 8" x 10" tagboard in half of the circular form, and fold inward. This vertically, allowing about ½" to extend process creates convex that form over the end. Fold and glue the extension sculpture modules. to create an envelope.

4. Make short, wide modules, and long, narrow modules. 2. Use the circular object to trace a half circle extending outward at each end of the envelope, then cut off the ends.

5. Experiment with different angles to create a variety of modules, then assemble them into sculpture.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A Three-Dimensional World Illustrated Art Lessons

Creating Animal Sculpture Materials: large paper bags • scissors • pencils • glue • paint • water • paintbrushes • plastic egg • newspaper scraps • stapler • string

1. Choose an animal that lives in the local habitat. 4. Draw in features of the animal, then paint Cut the bottom off a large paper bag, then draw it on both sides, emphasizing the animal’s the shape of an animal on it. characteristics.

5. Tear strips of newspaper, then stuff them into 2. Cut out the shape of the animal drawing. the animal shape through the open end. Staple There should be two animal shapes. the open end. Attach a string to each animal and hang the sculptures throughout the classroom.

3. Glue the two animal shapes together around the edges, leaving one end unglued. This opening 6. If desired, the class can work together to will be used to stuff the animal with newspaper. paint a mural of the local habitat, following the directions in the lesson “Painting Murals”. Hang the stuffed sculptures in front of the habitat mural.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A Three-Dimensional World Illustrated Art Lessons

Studying Proportion: 10–Point Drawing System Materials: 12" x 18" manila or white paper • pencils • colored stick-on dots

1. Place colored stick-on dots on one person’s 3. Using the lines as a skeleton or basis for the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles figure, draw in shapes for the arms, legs, head, (total of 10 dots). Teach the names for these and torso. parts of the body. Number the dots.

2. Ask the model to strike a pose. Start the 4. Add details to complete the drawing. drawing by first positioning the 10 dots, then connecting them using lines. The drawing will be a stick figure. Repeat the process with several different poses.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 Machines around Us Illustrated Art Lessons

Making Moving Art: Color Machine Materials: 6" x 6" posterboard • primary-color markers • glue • 1" x 8" x 8" wooden boards • spools • long screws (1" longer than the spools) • screwdriver • eye hooks • string • nuts

1. Find the center of the posterboard by drawing lines from corner to corner. Punch a small hole 4. Screw one eye hook to the top corner of the in the center. Draw a geometric design on the board, so that you can suspend the board from posterboard with the hole at the center. Fill in a nail in the wall. Screw two eye hooks to the the design with any combination of two primary- front of the board, as indicated in the diagram. color markers.

5. Run a string through one of the lower eye hooks, around the spool twice, and down through the other eye hook. 2. Align the hole in the posterboard with the hole in a spool, and glue the spool to the posterboard.

6. Attach nuts as small weights to each end of the string. Make one weight heavier than the other. 3. Push a screw through the hole in the posterboard Hold the heaviest weight close to the eye hook, and the spool, and screw it into the center of the then release. The weight will pull the spool and wooden board. The spool should be between the spin the card. The primary colors should blend, posterboard and the wooden board. making a new secondary color.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 Machines around Us Illustrated Art Lessons

Writing Stories: Box Sculpture Materials: boxes of different sizes and shapes • glue • paper-towel rolls and toilet-paper rolls • scissors • masking tape • paint • paintbrushes • construction paper

1. Collect different kinds of boxes in the weeks 3. When a composition has been agreed upon, leading up to this project. Look for a variety of attach the boxes by gluing them together, and interesting shapes, such as egg , oatmeal by cutting holes to insert rolls or containers, cereal boxes, toothpaste cartons, toilet paper rolls. shoe boxes, and book cartons.

2. Study the shapes of the collected boxes 4. Use small boxes for facial and other features, or to determine which boxes correspond to cut construction paper into geometric shapes different parts of the human figure. Work and apply. Paint the figure to make it look more in groups to try different arrangements machine-like and to unify the composition. of the boxes to suggest the part-human, part-machine creature developed in the language arts lesson (see the Machines around Us Lesson Chart).

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A World of Patterns Illustrated Art Lessons

Printing Patterns Materials: potatoes • nails • scissors • meat trays • paper towels • Createx paint or water-soluble ink in different colors • newspaper • 12" x 18" manila or white paper

4. Place several sheets of paper towels in a meat tray. Add paint or ink to the paper 1. Cut potatoes in two. Draw a geometric shape towels to make a stamp pad for . on the cut surface of the potato.

Use a nail to trace around the geometric shape 2. Press the cut part of the potato on the ink several times, creating a groove in the potato. 5. in the tray. Practice printing from the potato stamp and reinking the stamp until the process becomes familiar.

3. Remove the unwanted areas around the 6. Using two or three stamps and colors, create a geometric shape by scraping the potato tessellated pattern of regularly repeating shapes with the blade of the scissors. and colors on the white or manila paper.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A World of Patterns Illustrated Art Lessons

Writing and Quilting: Crayon –on –Fabric Quilt Materials: pencils • crayons • 10" x 10" squares of manila paper • 10" x 10" squares of white cotton or muslin fab - ric • cardboard • pushpins • iron • needle • thread

3. Select favorite colors, and color in the entire square. 1. Make preliminary sketches of personal symbols on manila paper. Use simplified shapes to create a strong design.

4. As each square is completed, place the fabric between two layers of clean paper and press gently with a hot iron. This process causes the color to adhere to the fabric.

2. Feel the fabric squares. Discuss the difference between drawing on paper and on fabric. Tack the fabric to cardboard, using pushpins to keep the material taut. Draw designs on the fabric squares.

5. Arrange the fabric squares in a unified design with colors and shapes repeating to add rhythm to the quilt. Sew the fabric squares together.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A World of Patterns Illustrated Art Lessons

Weaving Patterns Materials: 12" x 18" construction paper • scissors • ruler • cardboard • yarn

1. Create a loom from construction paper. Draw 4. Demonstrate weaving by pushing one weft a line horizontally 1" from the top of the paper. strip over and under the warp. Start the next This is the “stop-line” to be used while cutting weft under, then over the warp to make a the warp. Fold the paper in half with the stop-line checkerboard pattern. showing. Using a ruler, draw vertical lines about 1" apart, from the fold to the stop-line. 5. Discuss ways to vary the weaving patterns. Experiment by varying the color of the weft strips and by changing the weaving pattern through the warp (for example, over two and under one).

6. Make several paper weavings that demonstrate different patterns.

The same technique can be used with yarn.

2. Cut along the vertical lines, starting at the fold and ending at the stop-line. Unfold the paper. This is the warp.

A. To make a loom for yarn, cut slots about ¼" apart in a piece of stiff cardboard. Wrap the yarn around the length of the board to make the warp. B. Using other colors of yarn, push the weft over and under the warp, pulling the yarn to the end and starting back on the next row. To vary the 3. To make the weft, cut 1"-wide strips of color of the weft, tie pieces of differently colored colored construction paper. Use many yarn together and weave. Experiment with colors different paper colors. and weaving patterns as above.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285 A World of Patterns Illustrated Art Lessons

Tessellation in Animals: Collage Materials: 12" x 18" white art paper • construction paper • scissors • glue • markers or crayons

1. Draw the outline shape of animals 3. Arrange the torn shapes within the on a piece of paper. outline of the animal and glue them in place to make a tessellated design.

2. Tear shapes for the tessellated patterns on the 4. Using markers or crayons, draw the animals from pieces of construction paper. animal’s habitat.

The Learning Through Art program at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, is underwritten by:

The Learning Through Art curriculum website is made possible in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 17.285